Patent Reform Act Threatens ‘Engine’ of Prosperity (China Wins)

Big Government ^ | August 30th | Bob McCarty

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

On the day we arrived in Washington, April 12, 1997, we tuned in to C-Span just in time to see the House of Representatives pass H.400 on a voice vote. Not one member of the House of Representatives demanded a roll call vote on a bill that would severely emasculate a core function of the federal government.

When we were finally able to obtain a copy of S.507, we read it very carefully and we were horrified. Never in all of our years as lobbyists had we ever read a worse piece of legislation. If we had ever wondered what it was that the Chinese received in return for the millions of dollars they poured into the Clinton-Gore reelection campaign in 1996, there was no longer any doubt:

...

I tell this story now because those who wish to destroy the U.S. patent system, the constitutional wealth-generator that has been the “engine” of our prosperity since the first days of our republic (whoever “they” are), have waged a never-ending attack on the system since the day we defeated them in 1997. This year is no different. When the Senate returns from its August recess, the members will be asked to end a filibuster against passage of H.R. 1249, the Smith-Leahy Patent Reform Act of 2011. It is essentially the same bill that we defeated in 1997 and it deserves the same fate.

If we care about preserving our standard of living for future generations, we should all call our senators and demand that they vote “no” on the motion to invoke cloture.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

He tells a story in order to give context. Unfortunately, the article is huge as a result.

[ken21]

bill and hill clinton belong in jail.

[Cheetahcat]

“bill and hill clinton belong in jail.”

They are worse than the Rosenberg's.

[sinanju]

A quick read-through is enough to get an impression of the monstrous implications of the legislation. I’ve been wondering about that place ever since I did a work assignment there for a few days three years ago. The new digs in Alexandria are gargantuan. It must have half the office space of the Pentagon. Ever since, I’ve wondered just how many superfluous people are making a phat living from that place.

[Atlas Sneezed]

A quick read-through is enough to get an impression of the monstrous implications of the legislation. I’ve been wondering about that place ever since I did a work assignment there for a few days three years ago. The new digs in Alexandria are gargantuan. It must have half the office space of the Pentagon. Ever since, I’ve wondered just how many superfluous people are making a phat living from that place.

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You got it wrong. They are understaffed, underpaid, and overworked at the USPTO. The problem is that Congress takes a big chunk of patent and trademark fee revenue, that should be put into the services the applicants are paying for.